Polymer sols including nucleoprotein and carboxyvinyl polymer

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a nucleoprotein sol prepared by treating deoxyribonucleoprotein with water soluble carboxyvinyl polymer.

United States Patent 1191 Yueh 1 POLYMER SOLS INCLUDING NUCLEOPROTEINAND CARBOXYVINYL POLYMER [75] Inventor: Mao H. Yueh, Minneapolis. Minn.

[73] Assignee: General Mills Chemicals, Inc.

[22] Filed: Jan. 10, 1974 [2]] Appl. No.: 433,022

52] US. Cl. ..260/8;424/59;424/70;

424/71; 424/81; 424/177 511 1111. C1 ..C08h 7/00 158 Field of Search260/8 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,305,356 12/1942Luckenbach ..424/81 1451 Apr. 22, 1975 3.689.419 9/1972 Yuch 424/177OTHER PUBLICATIONS Chem. Absts.. Vol. 75:121293e. Excipients forCosmetics-Acids." Rossi, et al.

[57] ABSTRACT Disclosed is a nucleoprotein sol prepared by treatingdeoxyribonucleoprotein with water soluble carboxyvinyl polymer.

11 Claims, No Drawings POLYMER SOLS INCLUDING NUCLEOPROTEIN ANll)CARBOXYVINYL POLYMER The present invention relates to nucleoprotein andmore particularly to solubilization of deoxyribonucleoprotein.

Viscous nucleoprotein sols prepared from deoxyribonucleoprotein areknown. In the past such nucleoprotein material has been solubilizedusing soaps. inorganic salts. anionic detergents and amphotericdetergents. Recently I discovered that the resulting sols are useful inshampoo. hair wave setting compositions. skin conditioners and wastetreatment compositions. Although such sols were highly functional insuch uses. certain inherent disadvantages were present. For example. incertain uses it is desirable to avoid use of salts or detergents.typically. in hair wave setting compositions and skin conditioners. Theknown sols at certain concentrations also possessed a characteristicdescribed as elasticity or stringiness. In other words the solutiongenerally was not easily separated into discrete portions. If oneattempted to pour a small portion from a container, the stream leavingthe container would not separate easily from the portion in thecontainer. but rather would be pulled back into the container much likea piece of rubber band contracting. The present invention overcomes suchdisadvantages by using carboxyvinyl polymer (i.e.. carboxypolymethylene)to solubilize the deoxyribonucleoprotein. The resulting sol has adesirable consistency and is of particular value in uses such as skinconditioners and hair wave setting compositions since salts anddetergents need not be present.

The sol of the present invention may include at least 0.01 percent.typically. 0.01 to 2.0 percent deox yribonucleoprotein. at least 0.01percent. typically. 0.01 to 1.0 percent carboxyvinyl polymer: and atleast 80 percent. typically. 80 to 99 percent water. Various othermaterials may be present such as compatible perfumes and coloring.

The nucleoprotein material used in the present invention may be of thesame types as previously used in preparing viscous sols. The termnucleoprotein as used herein will refer to deoxyribonucleoprotein. Forexample. it may be obtained from any substance having a substantialamount of deoxyribonucleoprotein present, preferably fish milt or avianblood. Other sources would include wheat germ. microbial material andvarious organ tissue such as thymus. spleen. pancreas and liver obtainedfrom calves or testes obtained from bulls. For purposes of economics andease in preparation. the substance should have at least 0.5 percentdeoxyribonucleoprotein by weight. As used herein. the term nucleoproteinmaterial will mean a material containing at least 0.5 percentdeoxyribonucleoprotein.

The nucleoprotein material may be treated in various ways for purposesof stabilization. purification and concentration. The material may beheated and/or treated with a lower aliphatic alcohol to inactivateenzymes. The material may be treated to remove cell walls and tissue,for example. by blending the material to obtain uniform size andhomogeneity such as in a blender or mixer. The material may beconcentrated or dehydrated by conventional techniques such as vacuum.drum. tray. freeze drying and the like.

Fish milt is the most highly preferred source of the nucleoprotein. Fishmilt is one of the waste products of the fish processing industry. It ismade up primarily of the fish sperm surrounded by connective tissue.Analysis of the milt shows that it contains large amounts i.e.. 90percent and more of deoxyribonucleoprotein wherein the protein isprotamine. Normally the milt is combined with other fish wastes andutilized to some extent as a hatchery feed. Some biochemical companiesuse the milt as a raw material for the preparation of DNA(deoxyribonucleic acid). More often than not. the milt is simplydisposed of with the rest of the fish waste products.

Highly useful viscous sols can be prepared by dispersing the fish miltsolids in an aqueous medium along with carboxyvinyl polymer. Thecarboxyvinyl polymer appears to at least partially solubilize theotherwise insoluble milt solids. In so doing. it is theorized that thedeoxyribonucleoprotein of the milt unwinds and swells. thus forming theviscous sol. The mixture of water. carboxyvinyl polymer anddeoxyribonucleoprotein is stable. that is. it does not separate into itscomponent parts. Also the mixture in some instances may be clear ornearly clear. lf desired. one may add a material to provide opaquenesssuch as silica.

The invention is applicable to fresh milt solids as well as milt thathas been processed in various ways to inhibit enzyme activity ordeterioration. Thus. fresh milt. such as salmon milt available. forexample. from Alaskan canneries. can be merely reduced in particle sizesuch as by blending or homogenizing. and then dispersed in water orother suitable aqueous medium which contains. or to which is added. thewater soluble carboxyvinyl polymer. However. it is preferred to furtherprocess the milt prior to use in the present invention since itdeteriorates rather quickly. Additionally. it is desirable to reduce oreliminate any fishy smell that the milt may possess. Also. it has beenfound that fresh milt can be preserved by adding small quantities of thesodium salt of ethylene diamine tetracetic acid. sodium arsenate and/orS-nitrofurfuralsemicarbazone. The use of small quantities of each ofthese materials is preferred. The fresh milt solids or dry milt solidscan also be frozen and then thawed immediately prior to use in preparingthe sol.

The milt can be heated to effect at least partial enzyme deactivation.Where the heating temperatures are high i.e.. 90C. or above thetreatment times should be short. For example. if the heating temperatureis between 106 and l 16C.. the time may be about 2 to 4 seconds. Wherethe heating temperatures are below about 90C. i.e. about 50 to 90C. thetreatment can be carried out for from a few minutes to an hour or morei.e., about 5 minutes to two hours. It has been found that the aboveheat treatments are effective in extending the useful life of the miltsolids and of the resulting viscous sols. However. care must beexercised to prevent the denaturization of the milt solids i.e.. thedeoxyribonucleoproteins. Additionally. the heat treatment does notordinarily completely deactivate the enzymes. Thus. the milt solids andresulting viscous solids are still subject to deterioration afterreasonable storage periods. lt is especially preferred to treat the miltsolids with a lower aliphatic alcohol of 1 to about 5 carbon atoms.Especially preferred alcohols are methanol. ethanol and isopropanol. Themilt solids can be dispersed in alcohol and then recovered. lt ispreferred to use from about 2 to about 30 volumes of the alcohol basedon the volume of the milt solids. From an economic standpoint. the useof about 2 to about volumes is especially preferred. The alcohol may becold or heated to as high as its boiling point in the case of methanol,ethanol and isopropanol. or to about 90C. in the case of the alcoholshaving boiling points above such temperature.

The milt. fresh or preserved with chemical additives as aforementioned.can be dehydrated by conventional techniques i.e.. vacuum. drum. tray.freeze drying and the like. Where the enzymes have been partially orcompletely inactivated. as above described. the dry milt solids can bestored for various periods of time prior to use in the presentinvention.

The viscous sols are then prepared by dispersing the milt solids in anaqueous medium which contains. or to which is added. the carboxyvinylpolymer. The carboxyvinyl polymer may be present in an amount of atleast about 0.01 percent by weight based on the total weight of the sol.The overall preferred range is about 0.01 to 1.0 percent. Carboxyvinylpolymers are polymers which contain a vinyl group and a carboxyl group.lllustrative of such polymers are the homo and copolymers of acrylicacid. Acrylic acid has the formula CH =CH- CO- H and thus possesses avinyl group and carboxyl group. Where copolymers of acrylic acid areemployed it is preferable that the polyacrylic acid or acrylate compriseat least 90 percent and, more preferably. at least 95 percent by weightof the polymer. Illustrative of the comonomer employed with acrylic acidto form copolymers are allyl compounds such as allyl starch or sucrose.In general. any copolymer of polyacrylic acid having substantially thesame infra red absorption spectra as the polyacrylic acid homopolymer issuitable for use in the present invention.

The carboxyvinyl polymers are commercially available. Illustrative ofsuch polymers are those supplied by B. F. Goodrich such as WS-80l whichis a polyacrylic acid polymer having a molecular weight of approximately250.000 and various Carbopol products (i.e.. Carbopol 934. 940 and 941)which have varying molecular weights above 250.000. Carbopol 934 has thesame infra red scan as WS-801 (polyacrylic acid) and an equivalentweight of near 75. Carbopol 960 and 961 are the corresponding ammoniumsalts of Carbopol 934 and 941, respectively. Carbopol 934. for example.is a copolymer of about 100 parts of acrylic acid and about 1 to 2 partsof octa-allyl sucrose. The carboxyvinyl polymer is in a water solubleform for use in the present invention. The carboxyvinyl polymer may beobtained commercially in the water soluble form. typically. Carbopol960. Alternatively. the carboxyvinyl polymer. such as Carbopol 934. maybe solubilized by treatment with an alkaline material to raise the pH toabout pH 7.0. The alkaline material is preferably an alkali metalhydroxide such as sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide or an organicbase such as triethanolamine. monoethanolamine and the like. Care mustbe exercised to avoid changing the pH so drastically as to denature thedeoxyribonucleoprotein (i.e.. separate into protein and deoxyribonucleicacid). The carboxyvinyl polymer may be made water soluble by adjustingthe pH of the carboxyvinyl polymer to at least pH 5.5. The pH may bemaintained in the range of 7.0 to 9.0.

The aqueous medium is preferably plain water. However. it is to berecognized that the water may contain various other materials, forexample. those commonly found in hair wave setting compositions and skinconditioners. such as perfume. Of course. such materials must not be ofatype that would destroy the functionality of the nucleoprotein such asby denaturization.

The deoxyribonucleoprotein is dispersed in the aqueous medium in anamount sufficient to yield the viscous sol. Surprisingly. even verysmall amounts of the deoxyribonucleoprotein will yield sols of goodviscosity and functionality. The nucleoprotein typically will be presentin an amount of at least 0.01 percent, by weight, based on the totalweight of the $01. For example. in this regard. 0.1 percent by weight ofthe milt solids yields hair setting compositions or skin conditionerswith excellent properties. Thus, such amount is especially preferred forsuch uses. The overall preferred range of nucleoprotein in the sol isfrom about 0.01 to 2.0 percent by weight based on the total weight ofthe particular composition (e.g.. hair setting compositions).

The nucleoprotein material used in the present invention may be obtainedfrom avian blood erythrocytes. Avian blood is blood obtained from birds.The avian blood used in the present invention may be obtained from anytype of bird; however, preferred birds include chickens. ducks. turkeysand other domestic birds. The avian blood erythrocytes may be processedin various ways, such as to increase the concentration ofdeoxyribonucleoprotein and correspondingly reduce color. This procedureis carried out by hemolyzing the erythrocytes, thus releasing thehemoglobin. Various hemolyzing agents may be employed to rupture thecell walls of the erythrocytes. A preferred such agent is saponin whichcan be employed in low concentrations.- i.e., from about 0.01 to 1.9percent by weight based on the dry weight of the erythrocytes. Afterhemolysis is completed. the solids may be washed. preferably with waterof dilute aqueous NaCl solutions to remove the soluble materials andespecially the hemoglobin. The erythrocytes per se or any fractionthereof may also be treated with a lower aliphatic alcohol of from 1 toabout 5 carbon atoms. Such treatment tends to deactivate enzymes andother microorganisms. thus preventing deterioration. Additionally. theblood from which the erythrocytes can be treated with sodium citrate toprevent clotting and thus facilitate the separation of the erythrocytesfrom the plasma. The erythrocytes. or fractions thereof, can bedehydrated by conventional techniques i.e.. vacuum, drum. tray, freezedrying and the like.

The viscous sols are then prepared by dispersing the erythrocytes ordescribed fraction of erythrocytes in an aqueous medium which containsor to which is added the carboxyvinyl polymer. The nucleoprotein may beused in the same amounts as described with respect to the fish milt. Thecarboxyvinyl polymer may be used in the same amounts as mentioned withrespect to fish milt.

The nucleoprotein material of the present invention, typically. may be amicroorganism such as Xamhomonas campesrris NRRL-Bl459. XanI/wmonascampestris var. alfalfac ATCC l 1765, Agrobactcrium tumefacicusNRRL-836. Escherichia coli ATCC l 1775, Alcaligenes faecalis ATCC 337.Bacilus subtilis var. natto ATCC 7058. Erwinia carlovoria ATCC 15713.Bacillus cereus ATCC 10987. Escherichia coli strep. resistant ATCC25250. Micrococus cilreus ATCC 10987. Proteus vulgaris ATCC 13315.Pseudonwnas aeruginosa ATC C 10145. Surcina Iutia ATCC 10054. Scrratiamarcesceus ATCC 13880. and the like. The microorganisms may be fresh andare preferably separated from their growing medium such as bycentrifugation. The microorganisms may be frozen prior to use.

The viscous sols are prepared by dispersing the microbial material in anaqueous medium which contains or to which is added carboxyvinyl polymerof the same types and amounts as mentioned with respect to fish milt.The microbial material may be included in the viscous sol in amounts asdescribed with respect to the fish milt nucleoprotein. for example. atleast 0.01 to 2.0 percent by weight based on the total weight of theaqueous medium.

Other nucleoprotein containing material may be used in the presentinvention. typically including wheat germ and organ tissue such asthymus. spleen. pancreas. liver and testes. The organ tissue may betreated much as described with respect to milt. blood and microbials forpurposes of stabilizing and/or concentrating the nucleoprotein material.For example. skin and connective tissue may be removed. The tissue maybe finely cut or chopped so that it can be easily and thoroughlydispersed in the aqueous medium. The tissue may be dried using alcoholssuch as methanol. ethanol or isopropanol. Of course. any undissolvedresidue remaining after formation of the sol preferably is removed.

The following examples serve to illustrate the present invention and arenot intended for purposes of limitation.

EXAMPLE A Fresh. frozen salmon milt was thawed and chopped into smallfragments. The milt was passed through a meat grinder and the resultingmince was rapidly dispersed in volumes of isopropanol and stirredcontinuously for 1 hour. The solids were filtered. dried and ball milledin a 4C. room. A creamy white and fine powdery product was obtained. Theproduct was suitable for use in forming the sol of the presentinvention.

EXAMPLE B About 100 milliliters of turkey blood (containing about 0.2percent by weight heparin to prevent clotting) was centrifuged at 40F.and 2.000 rpm for minutes. The blood was separated into the supernatant(plasma) and a precipitate of 49.0 milliliters (mainly erythrocytes).The precipitate. composed of 69.8 percent moisture and 30.4 percentsolids, was dispersed in five volumes of ethanol and stirredcontinuously at room temperature for minutes. After filtration. airdrying and grinding. a dark powdery product was obtained. The productwas suitable for use in the present invention.

EXAMPLE C Seventy milliliters of fresh turkey blood (containing about3.0 percent by weight sodium citrate to prevent clotting) wascentrifuged at 4C. and 10.000 rpm for ten minutes to remove the serumproteins. The residue which contained the erythrocytes was washed threetimes with about 100 milliliters of 0.9 percent by weight aqueous NaClsolution. each washing being fol lowed by centrifugation to recover theprecipitate. Then the precipitate was dispersed in 10 volumes of thesalt solution to which was also added 0.6 percent by weight saponin.After standing at 4C. for 30 minutes. the mixture was centrifuged at1244.000 rpm for 30 minutes to remove the dark supernatant. The residuewas washed three times with 50 volumes of cold (4C.) 0.9 percent aqueousNaCl and recovered each time by centrifugation. The final washing andcentrifugation resulted in a lightly pinkish supernatant and a creamyresidue. The residue was recovered and dispersed in 50 milliliters ofethanol. After filtration and air drying. a white powdery nucleoproteinproduct was obtained. The product was suitable for use in the presentinvention.

EXAMPLE D Microorganisms of the type Xanr/zomonus campesn'is NRRL-Bl459were obtained from a commercial source. The microorganisms wereinoculated in 100 milliliters of culture medium contained in a 500milliliter Erlenmeyer flask. The culture medium was composed of 2.0percent cerelose. 0.5 percent yeast extract. 0.5 percent trypton. 0.5percent KH PO and 96.4 percent water. by weight. The medium. prior toinoculation. was adjusted to pH 7.0 and sterilized. lncubation wascarried out on a rotary shaker at 25C. for 42 hours. The shaker rotatedin a 2 inch diameter circle at 250 rpm. The cells were then recoveredfrom the medium by centrifugation for 10 minutes at 9.500 rpm. Therecovered material was a yellow pasty mass having a moisture content ofabout percent by weight. The product was suitable for use in the presentinvention.

EXAMPLE I A so] was prepared according to the present invention bydispersing milligrams of carboxyvinyl polymer (Carbopol 934) in 50milliliters of water. Then 0.3 milliliters of 2 normal sodium hydroxidewere added with stirring to obtain a clear gel. One hundred milligramsof the salmon nucleoprotein product of Example A were dispersed in 50milliliters of water. The nucleoprotein product was added to the cleargel. The mixture was stirred for a few minutes and the nucleoproteinmaterial became solubilized producing a smooth sol.

EXAMPLE ll Example I was repeated except using 500 milligrams ofcarboxyvinyl polymer (Carbopol 934). 1.5 milliliters of 2 normal sodiumhydroxide and 100 milligrams of the salmon nucleoprotein. A smooth solwas obtained.

EXAMPLE lll Example l was repeated except using [000 milligrams ofcarboxyvinyl polymer (Carbopol 934), 3.0 milliliters of 2 normal sodiumhydroxide and 100 milligrams of salmon nucleoprotein. A smooth sol wasobtained.

EXAMPLE lV Examples l-lll were repeated except that the sodium hydroxideadditions were replaced with 100 milligrams. 500 milligrams. and 1.000milligrams. respectively. of triethanolamine. Smooth sols were obtained.

EXAMPLE V A sol was prepared according to the present invention bydispersing 200 milligrams of the turkey blood erythrocytes (treated asdescribed in Example B) in 50 milliliters of water. Two hundredmilligrams of carboxyvinyl polymer (Carbopol 934) and 200 milligrams oftriethanolamine were mixed with .50 milliliters of water. The two watermixtures were combined and stirred for a few minutes. A homogeneousnucleoprotein sol was obtained.

EXAMPLE VI A sol was prepared according to the present invention bydispersing l milligrams of the treated turkey blood nucleoprotein ofExample C in 50 milliliters of water. Two hundred milligrams ofcarboxyvinyl polymer (Carbopol 934) and 200 milligrams oftriethanolamine were mixed with 50 milliliters of water. The two watermixtures were combined and stirred for a few minutes. A homogeneousnucleoprotein sol was obtained.

EXAMPLE Vll A sol was prepared according to the present invention bydispersing 200 milligrams of the treated Xan- Ilwmunus cumpeslrisNRRL-Bl459 (dry weight) of Example D in 50 milliliters of water. Twohundred milligrams of carboxyvinyl polymer (Carbopol 934) and 200milligrams of triethanolamine were mixed with 50 milliliters of water.The two water mixtures were combined and stirred for a few minutes. Ahomogeneous nucleoprotein sol was obtained.

EXAMPLE VI" A hair conditioner cream was prepared using the sol of thepresent invention. parts water and 0.1 parts salmon nucleoprotein ofExample A were mixed. 60 parts water. 1.2 parts triethanolamine and L0parts carboxyvinyl polymer were mixed and added to thenucleoprotein-water dispersion. Three parts ethoxylated lanolin alcohol.5.0 parts lanolin derived sterol and 2.0 parts acetylated lanolinalcohol were mixed. heated to 70C. and added with stirring to thenucleoproteincarboxyvinyl polymer solution at 70C. The resulting mixturewas cooled to C. and was added with mixing to a mixture containing 0.05parts methyl parahydroxybenzoic acid. 0.05 parts propylparahydroxybenzoic acid and 0.l part perfume. A smooth and soft. creamyproduct suitable for use as a hair conditioner was obtained.

EXAMPLE 1x A hand cream was prepared using the sol of the presentinvention. The hand cream was prepared from the following mixtures:

Portions B and C were thoroughly mixed. Portion D was added to themixture B-C. The resulting mixture was heated to 72C. and Portion A. at72C.. was added and thoroughly mixed. The mixture was cooled to roomtemperature and Portion E was added with mixing. A soft. creamy productwas obtained and used as a hand cream. The product was found to softenand condition the skin.

EXAMPLE X Example IX was repeated except that 0.4 part of thenucleoprotein material was used. A soft. creamy product was obtained andused as a skin conditioner.

EXAMPLE Xl A suntan cream was prepared using the sol of the presentinvention. The cream was prepared from the following mixtures:

Ingredients Parts (by wt.)

Portion B Portion C Portion D Portions A and B were mixed and heated toC. Portion C was heated to 70C. and mixed with the heated mixture ofA-B. The resulting mixture was cooled to 30C. and mixed with Portion D.A soft. creamy product was obtained and found to be satisfactory as asuntan cream.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

l. A process for preparing a so] comprising addingdeoxyribonucleoprotein and carboxyvinyl polymer in water. said waterbeing present in an amount of at least percent by weight of the sol.said deoxyribonucleoprotein being present in an amount of at least 0.01percent by weight of the sol. said carboxyvinyl polymer being a memberof the group consisting of homopolymers and copolymers of acrylic acid.said carboxyvinyl polymer having a molecular weight of at least about250.000. said carboxyvinyl polymer being present in a water soluble formhaving a pH of at least 5.5. said carboxyvinyl polymer being present inan amount of at least 0.0l percent by weight of the sol. said polymeramount being sufficient to form a stable mixture of said water.deoxyribonucleoprotein, and carboxyvinyl polymer.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the carboxyvinyl polymer is present inan amount of about 0.01 to 1.0 percent by weight of the sol and thedeoxyribonucleoprotein is present in an amount of about 0.01 to 2.0percent by weight of the sol.

3. The process of claim I wherein the deoxyribonucleoprotein and thecarboxyvinyl polymer are present in about the same amounts by weight.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein the pH is adjusted to about pH 7.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein the pH is adjusted by addition of analkaline material selected from the 9 group consisting of sodiumhydroxide. potassium hydroxide triethanolamine and monoethanolamine.

6. The process of claim 1 wherein the pH is adjusted by addition of amember selected from the group con sisting of alkali metal hydroxidesand organic bases.

7. A polymer sol comprising water. deoxyribonucleoprotein and carboxyinyl polymer; said water being present in an amount of at least about 80percent. by weight; said deoxyribonucleoprotein being present in anamount of at least about 0.01 percent by weight; and said carboxyvinylpolymer being present in an amount of at least about 0.01 percent byweight. said carboxyvinyl polymer having an infrared spectra absorptionsubstantially identical to polyacrylic acid and a molecular weight of atleast about 250.000, said carboxy inyl polymer having a pH of at least5.5, said carboxyvinyl polymer being a member of the group consisting ofhomopolymers and copolymers of acrylic acid.

8. The sol of claim 7 wherein said deoxyribonucleoprotein is present inan amount of from 0.01 to 2.0 percent by weight of the sol and whereinsaid carboxyvinyl polymer is present in an amount of from 0.01 to 1.0percent by weight of the sol.

9. The sol of claim 7 wherein the carboxyvinyl polymer has a molecularweight of about 250,000.

10. The sol of claim 9 wherein the carboxyvinyl polymer has an acidequivalent of about 75.

11. The sol of claim 10 wherein the carboxyvinyl polymer is a copolymerof acrylic acid and allyl sucrose.

1. A PROCESS FOR PREPARING A SOL COMPRISING ADDINGDEOXYRIBONUCLEOPROTEIN AND CARBOXYVINYL POLYMER IN WATER, SAID WATERBEING PRESENT IN AN AMOUNT OF AT LEAST 80 PERCENT BY WEIGHT OF THE SOL,SAID DEOXYRIBOUNCLEOPROTEIN BEING PRESENT IN AN AMOUNT OF AT LEAST 0.01PERCENT BY WEIGHT OF THE SOL, SAID CARBOXYVINYL POLYMER BEING A MEMBEROF THE GROUP CONSISTING OF HOMOPOLYMERS AND COPOLYMERS OF ACRYLIC ACID,SAID CARBOXVINYL POLYMER HAVING A MOLECULAR WEIGHT OF AT LEAST ABOUT250,000, SAID CARBOXYVINYL POLYMER BEING PRESENT IN A WATER SOLUBLE FROMHAVING A PH OF AT LEAST 5.5, SAID CARBOXYVINYL POLYMER BEING PRESENT INAN AMOUNT OF AT LEAST 0.01 PERCENT BY WEIGHT OF THE SOL, SAOD POLYMERAMOUNT BEING SUFFICIENT TO FORM A STABLE MIXTURE OF SAID WATER,DEOXYRIBOUNCLEOPROTEIN, AND CARBOXYVINYL POLYMER.
 1. A process forpreparing a sol comprising adding deoxyribonucleoprotein andcarboxyvinyl polymer in water, said water being present in an amount ofat least 80 percent by weight of the sol, said deoxyribonucleoproteinbeing present in an amount of at least 0.01 percent by weight of thesol, said carboxyvinyl polymer being a member of the group consisting ofhomopolymers and copolymers of acrylic acid, said carboxyvinyl polymerhaving a molecular weight of at least about 250,000, said carboxyvinylpolymer being present in a water soluble form having a pH of at least5.5, said carboxyvinyl polymer being present in an amount of at least0.01 percent by weight of the sol, said polymer amount being sufficientto form a stable mixture of said water, deoxyribonucleoprotein, andcarboxyvinyl polymer.
 2. The process of claim 1 wherein the carboxyvinylpolymer is present in an amount of about 0.01 to 1.0 percent by weightof the sol and the deoxyribonucleoprotein is present in an amount ofabout 0.01 to 2.0 percent by weight of the sol.
 3. The process of claim1 wherein the deoxyribonucleoprotein and the carboxyvinyl polymer arepresent in about the same amounts by weight.
 4. The process of claim 1wherein the pH is adjusted to about pH
 7. 5. The process of claim 1wherein the pH is adjusted by addition of an alkaline material selectedfrom the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide,triethanolamine and monoethanolamine.
 6. The process of claim 1 whereinthe pH is adjusted bY addition of a member selected from the groupconsisting of alkali metal hydroxides and organic bases.
 7. A polymersol comprising water, deoxyribonucleoprotein and carboxyvinyl polymer;said water being present in an amount of at least about 80 percent, byweight; said deoxyribonucleoprotein being present in an amount of atleast about 0.01 percent by weight; and said carboxyvinyl polymer beingpresent in an amount of at least about 0.01 percent by weight, saidcarboxyvinyl polymer having an infrared spectra absorption substantiallyidentical to polyacrylic acid and a molecular weight of at least about250,000, said carboxyvinyl polymer having a pH of at least 5.5, saidcarboxyvinyl polymer being a member of the group consisting ofhomopolymers and copolymers of acrylic acid.
 8. The sol of claim 7wherein said deoxyribonucleoprotein is present in an amount of from 0.01to 2.0 percent by weight of the sol and wherein said carboxyvinylpolymer is present in an amount of from 0.01 to 1.0 percent by weight ofthe sol.
 9. The sol of claim 7 wherein the carboxyvinyl polymer has amolecular weight of about 250,000.
 10. The sol of claim 9 wherein thecarboxyvinyl polymer has an acid equivalent of about 75.